Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break | Evil Twin Brewing
Brewed by:
Evil Twin Brewing
New York, United States
eviltwin.dk
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
The Roman Empire had a certain "je ne sais quoi" - festive food culture, extravagant architecture, and spectacular live entertainment. Some might argue the Emperors were brutal, mad, and hungry for power, and the people vain when taking baths and working out all day. Listen - that's still all part of the secret Imperial ingredient - keep it cool, clean, confident, arrogant, and flamboyant. Forza Imperiale.
Added by BlackBelt5112203 on 04-12-2012
Ratings: 4,255 | Reviews: 621
4.54/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: Deep, dark brown with a biscotti colored head! Floppy, non-uniform bubbles with lingering head overall.
Smell: Amazing. Toast. Biscuit. Nutty. Cherry. Strawberry. Sweet. Molasses.
Taste: Super sweet, followed up by toasted bread and grain, cacao, berries. You'd have no idea this was 11.5%.
Feel: Thick and syrupy, low fizz, easily drinkable. A bit slick.
Overall: Wow. Overall a very sweet beer but it's just brimming with flavor!
441 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: Deep, dark brown with a biscotti colored head! Floppy, non-uniform bubbles with lingering head overall.
Smell: Amazing. Toast. Biscuit. Nutty. Cherry. Strawberry. Sweet. Molasses.
Taste: Super sweet, followed up by toasted bread and grain, cacao, berries. You'd have no idea this was 11.5%.
Feel: Thick and syrupy, low fizz, easily drinkable. A bit slick.
Overall: Wow. Overall a very sweet beer but it's just brimming with flavor!
441 characters
4.63/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
3.91/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Drafted pour with one inch head that subsided in seconds.
Mute Smokey vanilla nose.
Surprise surprise on palate, syrupy blackberry brown sugar, toffee, sour cherry and caramel.
Overall, best enjoy by slow sipping.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Drafted pour with one inch head that subsided in seconds.
Mute Smokey vanilla nose.
Surprise surprise on palate, syrupy blackberry brown sugar, toffee, sour cherry and caramel.
Overall, best enjoy by slow sipping.
213 characters
4.23/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.66/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.64/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
(I aged this bottle for 2 years before opening)
L) Honestly, it looks a bit lackluster. It is a very dark brown with a tan head that does not stick around. I poured relatively vigorously into a pint glass, but the head simply does not want to stick around. The color and visual viscosity of the beer though is good enough to warrant its score.
S) One of the best aromas I have experienced in the beer world. There are intense notes of vanilla, toasted marshmallow, milk and dark chocolate, coffee, malted milk ball, toffee, caramel, it's absolutely insane how intoxicating and strong the nose is. It boggles my mind that this was not barrel aged to get this kind of a nose.
T) As expected, the taste is not as good as the smell, but that would have been nigh impossible an accomplishment anyway. The vanilla still comes through incredibly strong, as well as the typical stout trio of coffee, chocolate, and malt. Maybe I got a weird bottle, but it genuinely has notes of "snowcream," and that is something I have not experienced as a tasting note before. My one complaint is that the flavors are not as strong as the smells; this would have been quite the emotional experience if that were the case.
F) Medium carbonation with a rich and creamy mouth-feel. While the beer is silky, with the flavors at hand, honestly It could stand to be silkier. Maybe I am being unfair though, after all, it is not barrel aged to my knowledge, but I am judging it against others that are simply from its smell and flavor profile.
O) I was not expecting this experience in the least; truth be told, I pushed this bottle to the side and recently just found it after trying to nix my hording habit. Hopefully the pint cans age well because I will certainly be investing in the occasional 4-packs of this sucker.
1,799 characters
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
(I aged this bottle for 2 years before opening)
L) Honestly, it looks a bit lackluster. It is a very dark brown with a tan head that does not stick around. I poured relatively vigorously into a pint glass, but the head simply does not want to stick around. The color and visual viscosity of the beer though is good enough to warrant its score.
S) One of the best aromas I have experienced in the beer world. There are intense notes of vanilla, toasted marshmallow, milk and dark chocolate, coffee, malted milk ball, toffee, caramel, it's absolutely insane how intoxicating and strong the nose is. It boggles my mind that this was not barrel aged to get this kind of a nose.
T) As expected, the taste is not as good as the smell, but that would have been nigh impossible an accomplishment anyway. The vanilla still comes through incredibly strong, as well as the typical stout trio of coffee, chocolate, and malt. Maybe I got a weird bottle, but it genuinely has notes of "snowcream," and that is something I have not experienced as a tasting note before. My one complaint is that the flavors are not as strong as the smells; this would have been quite the emotional experience if that were the case.
F) Medium carbonation with a rich and creamy mouth-feel. While the beer is silky, with the flavors at hand, honestly It could stand to be silkier. Maybe I am being unfair though, after all, it is not barrel aged to my knowledge, but I am judging it against others that are simply from its smell and flavor profile.
O) I was not expecting this experience in the least; truth be told, I pushed this bottle to the side and recently just found it after trying to nix my hording habit. Hopefully the pint cans age well because I will certainly be investing in the occasional 4-packs of this sucker.
1,799 characters
3.7/5 rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
4.58/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
16 oz can courtesy of my now ex-GF
Opaque. Pours a decent sized tan head that is creamy and pretty long lasting.
Gentle roasty aroma early, hints of coffee and smoke. A bit of sweetness in the aroma as well, and some chocolate milk.
Malt sweetness melds nicely with the dark malt roastiness and a bit of the drying from the coffee. Flavors come together very nicely. Sweet but not cloying, eventually turning more neutral and finishing with a slightly roasty finish. Quite smooth flavor profile.
MF - Fairly large body, low-medium carbonation. Some distinct but fairly low intensity alcoholic warming. Pretty gentle for an 11.5% brew.
I had been fearing this can in my fridge for some time, a largish can of very strong beer. Generally not a fan of beers with coffee added, but this beer works for me on every level. Is flavorful yet smooth, and lets you know it is strong without beating it over your head.
923 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
16 oz can courtesy of my now ex-GF
Opaque. Pours a decent sized tan head that is creamy and pretty long lasting.
Gentle roasty aroma early, hints of coffee and smoke. A bit of sweetness in the aroma as well, and some chocolate milk.
Malt sweetness melds nicely with the dark malt roastiness and a bit of the drying from the coffee. Flavors come together very nicely. Sweet but not cloying, eventually turning more neutral and finishing with a slightly roasty finish. Quite smooth flavor profile.
MF - Fairly large body, low-medium carbonation. Some distinct but fairly low intensity alcoholic warming. Pretty gentle for an 11.5% brew.
I had been fearing this can in my fridge for some time, a largish can of very strong beer. Generally not a fan of beers with coffee added, but this beer works for me on every level. Is flavorful yet smooth, and lets you know it is strong without beating it over your head.
923 characters
4.2/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Growler into pint glass. Pours a very, very dark brown - looks black once it's in the glass, but it's actually sorta dark cola-colored. Nice tan head. Initial impression is brown sugar, coffee, milk chocolate, a touch of vanilla, and a hint of almonds. This is a really smooth stout with all the rough edges buffed and polished - quite surprising for the octane level. Mouthfeel is a little thinner than I would have expected, and there is a little more carbonation than necessary. Finish is deceptively smooth.
You need to pay attention - this one will sneak up on you preecisely because it's so smooth and well-polished. It's still 11.5% and therefore deserves your respect.
I love Imperial Stouts, and this is one of the better ones.
747 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Growler into pint glass. Pours a very, very dark brown - looks black once it's in the glass, but it's actually sorta dark cola-colored. Nice tan head. Initial impression is brown sugar, coffee, milk chocolate, a touch of vanilla, and a hint of almonds. This is a really smooth stout with all the rough edges buffed and polished - quite surprising for the octane level. Mouthfeel is a little thinner than I would have expected, and there is a little more carbonation than necessary. Finish is deceptively smooth.
You need to pay attention - this one will sneak up on you preecisely because it's so smooth and well-polished. It's still 11.5% and therefore deserves your respect.
I love Imperial Stouts, and this is one of the better ones.
747 characters
4.43/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.96/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
into a tulip, appearance is a pitch black colored body with a tan slim half finger of a head that ends up concaving into the body after a good minute; the smell has strong bourbon bourbon notes up front, light vanilla, dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans; the taste is sweet through the bourbon notes, dark chocolate and then gets slightly balanced with the roasted coffee bean flavoring; coffee beans make a stronger presence in the aftertaste than the bourbon does; dry roasty finish; not that easy on the palate - this bad boy is more a sipper; carbonation is actually fairly smooth and is pretty good for the style and for me; overall I say this is a pretty good Double Stout that I would have again, not sure if I like this as much as everybody else, but I will say its solid
781 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
into a tulip, appearance is a pitch black colored body with a tan slim half finger of a head that ends up concaving into the body after a good minute; the smell has strong bourbon bourbon notes up front, light vanilla, dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans; the taste is sweet through the bourbon notes, dark chocolate and then gets slightly balanced with the roasted coffee bean flavoring; coffee beans make a stronger presence in the aftertaste than the bourbon does; dry roasty finish; not that easy on the palate - this bad boy is more a sipper; carbonation is actually fairly smooth and is pretty good for the style and for me; overall I say this is a pretty good Double Stout that I would have again, not sure if I like this as much as everybody else, but I will say its solid
781 characters
4.05/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break, 11.5% ABV. Pours black and thin, with a two finger tan foamy head. Nose is malt, alcohol, vanilla and coffee, taste follows, with more bitterness than I expected from the dessert-sounding name. Over-carbonated, so mouthfeel was just OK. Overall slightly excellent. I had been wanting to try this for a long time, and finally bagged some on an out-of-state beer run. Color me a bit disappointed. While it is decent, I guess I expected more chocolate, more nut, a bit sweeter, and less bitter - based on the name. Maybe I should try dunking some biscotti?
596 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break, 11.5% ABV. Pours black and thin, with a two finger tan foamy head. Nose is malt, alcohol, vanilla and coffee, taste follows, with more bitterness than I expected from the dessert-sounding name. Over-carbonated, so mouthfeel was just OK. Overall slightly excellent. I had been wanting to try this for a long time, and finally bagged some on an out-of-state beer run. Color me a bit disappointed. While it is decent, I guess I expected more chocolate, more nut, a bit sweeter, and less bitter - based on the name. Maybe I should try dunking some biscotti?
596 characters
4.46/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
No lacing. Snifter. No head really either. Smells of almond, cherry, vanilla. Taste vanilla and almond cherry. Dang. The almond. Just had another swing. Feel is medium to full bodied. Solid beer. Slightly below Even More Jesus for me. Seek it out but look for all the nuances.
276 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
No lacing. Snifter. No head really either. Smells of almond, cherry, vanilla. Taste vanilla and almond cherry. Dang. The almond. Just had another swing. Feel is medium to full bodied. Solid beer. Slightly below Even More Jesus for me. Seek it out but look for all the nuances.
276 characters
4.29/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.85/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.5/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours black with a tan head I got lots of roasted malts and alcohol in the smell. Considering the abv it is well hidden in the taste, there is also coffee, licorice, vanilla, some sweetness and a slight bitter finish. One of the top stouts I've had so far and definitely worth a try.
283 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours black with a tan head I got lots of roasted malts and alcohol in the smell. Considering the abv it is well hidden in the taste, there is also coffee, licorice, vanilla, some sweetness and a slight bitter finish. One of the top stouts I've had so far and definitely worth a try.
283 characters
4.08/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black and thick, just as it should. Low, chocolate colored foam.
Smell is sweet, with heaps of vanilla, chocolate, syrup, and hint of nuts.
The taste ramps up the almonds and tones down the vanilla a bit. Chocolate, honey and a bit of licorice round out the flavor.
Mouthfeel is medium to full, good carbonation.
A massive beer, made for sipping. I would have liked a little more thickness, but a very nice stout indeed.
430 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black and thick, just as it should. Low, chocolate colored foam.
Smell is sweet, with heaps of vanilla, chocolate, syrup, and hint of nuts.
The taste ramps up the almonds and tones down the vanilla a bit. Chocolate, honey and a bit of licorice round out the flavor.
Mouthfeel is medium to full, good carbonation.
A massive beer, made for sipping. I would have liked a little more thickness, but a very nice stout indeed.
430 characters
4.25/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break from Evil Twin Brewing
4.32
out of 5
based on 4,255 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25